Parts of North and West Melbourne, Kensington, Fishermans Bend and Docklands have been identified for renewal, but will this relieve the strain on the metropolitan fringe? What forms could it take, and who might it provide for? Informed commentators will discuss the types of development, ‘up versus out’ and multi-centred cities, residential densities, appropriate business spaces, affordable spaces for artists and heritage in the city’s old industrial zones.

Knowledge is a resource, which relies on the past for a better future. In the 21st century, more than ever before, cities around the world rely on the knowledge of their citizens, their institutions and their firms and enterprises. Integrating knowledge-based development in urban strategies and policies, beyond the provision of schools and locations for higher education, has become a new ambitious arena of city politics. Coming from theory to practice, and bringing together the knowledge stakeholders in a city and preparing joint visions for the knowledge city is a new challenge for city managers. It requires visionary power, creativity, holistic thinking, the willingness to cooperate with all groups of the local civil society, and the capability to moderate communication processes to overcome conflicts and to develop joint action for a sustainable future. This timely summit makes an important reminder that ‘knowledge’ is the key notion in the 21st Century development.

Summit themes include:

Knowledge-based (urban) development

Knowledge-based economy and value generation

Knowledge cities, regions and societies

Knowledge cluster, enterprise and organisations

Knowledge-intensive service activities

Knowledge assets and capital systems

Knowledge workers and creative class

Creativity, innovation, technology and learning communities

Sustainable (urban) development

Early bird registration closes: 10 August 2010

Early bird full time registration fee AUD900, and full time students* pay only AUD400 (* students will be asked to show their full time student ID cards upon registration at the venue)

Melbourne’s urban sprawl will push another 50,000 houses into surrounding farmland in the next 15 years, putting further pressure on Melbourne’s stretched transport system. Despite Government planning policies backing increased city density, almost half of all new housing expected in Melbourne over the next decade will be built on Melbourne’s fringes where there is little access to public transport.

A report by the Government’s urban development program estimated that â€˜an average of around 13,300 lots are required annually to meet projected dwelling demand across the growth areas over the next 15 years’. “The report found current land zoned for housing was not adequate for the expected demand. â€˜The 2008 urban development program has identified that there is approximately 10-11 years’ total supply of broad-hectare land (set aside) across metropolitan Melbourne growth areas, which constitutes a current shortfall of residential land for future requirements’, the report said. Government policy is to have 15 years of land available for housing.

The report indicated that at least 50,000 houses would be built outside Melbourne’s current boundary in the next 15 years. Greens MP Colleen Hartland said: â€˜There is already a huge strain; the Government is simply not putting money into public transport, they are letting those outer growth suburbs be built without any public transport’. ” Ref: Jason Dowling, The Age, 9/5/09